All Members Are Liars (Two-in-One)

Chapter 144

5:00 AM, the sky was just about to lighten but still dark.

The early morning in Wuzhen was shrouded in a faint blue-gray mist, the damp fog creeping along the river surface.

"Gu 'Dog' Ran! Wake up! Hurry and wake up!"

Gu Ran was right in the middle of a dream where he had just developed King's Pesticide, and Mahua Teng was chasing him with a forty-meter-long broadsword, demanding to buy the copyright.

Suddenly, he felt a chill on his body as his blanket was mercilessly ripped away. Immediately after, a pair of small hands shook his shoulders frantically, nearly scrambling his brains.

He struggled to peel his eyelids open, only to see Ye Zhenzhen with her long hair frizzed out in all directions. She hadn't even changed out of her nightgown, and her face was as pale as if she had just run off the set of The Ring.

"What's wrong? Did Boss Ma catch up?" Gu Ran sat up groggily, rubbing his sleep-filled eyes.

"What Boss Ma! It's Uncle Gu and my mom!!!"

Ye Zhenzhen stomped her feet in panic, lowering her voice, "I just had a nightmare! I dreamed they were knocking on the door with leather belts in hand. It scared me to death! We can't stay here any longer. As long as we run fast enough, we're still good kids! Let's get out of here!"

Leather belts?

Are they into that kind of kinky stuff?

His brain wasn't quite awake yet, and as a result, he was shaken until his insides felt scrambled once more by the young girl.

"Holy shit, Ye Zhenzhen, you pervert!"

The next second, realizing his blanket had vanished into thin air, Gu Ran hurriedly grabbed it back to cover up his early bird.

Ye Zhenzhen: "!!!"

Seeing his movement, the slow-to-react girl finally realized what was going on and hastily covered her eyes with her hands.

I'm doomed, I'm going to get a stye!

"Ah—Gu 'Dog' Ran, you're shameless!"

Gu Ran: "???"

Do you even hear what the hell you're saying?

Who was the one that ripped off his blanket?

"No, seriously sis, what are you doing coming over this early?"

Asked this question, Ye Zhenzhen instantly remembered her actual purpose. She recounted her nightmare once more, then hurriedly urged the dawdling guy to get out of bed and pack his things.

Gu Ran: "???"

Ye Zhenzhen, did you grow up being scared of everything?!

However, seeing the girl's nervous demeanor, Gu Ran's slight morning grumpiness vanished into thin air, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Dr. Ye, with this little cowardice of yours, what are you going to do when you get on the operating table in the future and your hands shake so much you sew a gauze pad into someone's stomach?"

"Cut the crap! Hurry up and get dressed!"

Ye Zhenzhen couldn't be bothered to bicker with him. She threw his T-shirt and shorts right at his face, then turned and dashed back to her own room next door via the balcony, not even daring to step into the hallway.

Ten minutes later.

The two rooms looked as if they had been ransacked.

The young girl, acting with the maternal efficiency of an older sister, displayed an astonishing talent for packing.

All those bottles and jars, sunscreen, and newly bought local specialties were swiftly stuffed into the suitcase by her.

Just over ten minutes later.

The two of them dragged their suitcases, tiptoeing toward the elevator lobby.

"Wait, don't take the elevator!"

The incredibly quick-witted girl grabbed Gu Ran and pointed at the stairs. "What if the elevator doors open and Uncle Gu and my mom are standing right inside? We take the stairs!"

Good job, quite meticulous...

Helpless, the boy could only lift that dead-heavy pink suitcase with one hand and follow her as she sprinted down the emergency stairwell.

First-floor lobby.

The guesthouse owner was slumped over the front desk, her head nodding as she played Penguin Farm, stealing virtual vegetables.

Hearing the hurried footsteps, she groggily raised her head.

Seeing two figures rushing over with suitcases in a frenzy, she instinctively glanced at the wall clock.

5:25 AM.

"Oh, you two are checking out already?" The owner yawned, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Not going to stay and play a bit longer? The sky isn't even fully bright yet."

"No more playing, we have a flight to catch." Ye Zhenzhen slapped the two room cards onto the counter with lightning speed.

The owner took the room cards and, while sluggishly operating the computer, casually made small talk: "You young people really have boundless energy. The couple upstairs knows how to enjoy life, though. They just called down saying they wanted morning tea. They're probably up and washing up by now. Said they wanted to watch the sunrise from the balcony..."

Boom!

Ye Zhenzhen's movements instantly froze.

Upstairs? Couple? Morning tea?

These words combined together had a destructive power comparable to a nuclear bomb.

Her mind instantly conjured up an image of Old Gu holding a teacup, standing on the balcony looking down at them, and then flashing a nuclear-friendly smile.

"Keep the deposit! Goodbye, boss!"

Ye Zhenzhen shouted, not even bothering with the unfinished checkout procedures. She grabbed Gu Ran's arm, dragged her suitcase, and sprinted outside as if she were being chased by a dog.

"Hey? Hey! There's still a two-hundred-yuan deposit! What is with kids these days..."

Holding two red bills, the owner watched their fleeing backs and rubbed her eyes in utter bewilderment. "What the hell, why did it look like they were fleeing a disaster?"

...

In the taxi.

Ye Zhenzhen slumped limply in the backseat, her chest heaving violently, occasionally glancing back through the rear windshield.

"Is that really necessary?" Gu Ran handed her a bottle of water, looking at her in amusement. "We're on a legal trip, not wanted criminals."

"What do you know!" Ye Zhenzhen twisted open the water and took a huge gulp, patting her chest with lingering fear before rolling her eyes at him.

"This is called a tactical retreat! If we really bumped into them, how would you explain it? Say we sleepwalked all the way to Wuzhen? Or say that Qinglin University opened a branch campus in Wuzhen?"

Gu Ran smiled and shook his head, deciding not to provoke this frightened little rabbit any further.

He opened the laptop he was carrying with him and connected to the internet card.

On the screen, a few unread emails lay quietly in his inbox.

They were notifications from an overseas offshore company.

With Temple Run continuing to dominate the North American charts, and the full rollout of the in-app advertising business, the second settlement payment had already arrived.

[Account Balance: $324,560.00]

Converted to RMB, it was over two million again.

Gu Ran's fingers tapped briskly on the keyboard, replying to a few emails regarding server expansion and new game project approvals.

Money is a man's courage.

With this funding, the upcoming Fruit Ninja development plan could be put on the agenda, and the company could be officially registered.

And as for Teacher Li Sinan, who was forced to resign by the parents, it was also time to reel the net in.

"What are you doing?" Ye Zhenzhen leaned over, resting her chin on his shoulder like a curious kitten.

Gu Ran closed the laptop and took the opportunity to pinch her cheek. "I'm calculating my finances to see where else I can take my big sister to elope."

"Pfft! Who... who wants to elope with you!" Ye Zhenzhen blushed and swatted his hand away, but her body honestly leaned in a bit closer.

The driver drove with a straight face, but occasionally peeked through the rearview mirror, unable to help but sigh at how wild young people were these days.

...

10:00 AM, Xiaoshan Airport.

As the plane roared into the sky, piercing through the heavy cumulonimbus clouds, golden sunlight instantly flooded the cabin.

Ye Zhenzhen's tightly strung nerves finally completely relaxed at this moment.

She turned her head to look at the churning sea of clouds outside the window, then looked at the boy resting with his eyes closed beside her. An unprecedented sense of security welled up in her heart.

Although this graduation trip had only been a few short days, full of scares and accidents, that feeling of the two of them relying on each other for survival left her deeply captivated.

Yeah, and that damn sense of immorality...

Ahhh, Ye Zhenzhen, are you crazy?!

"Gu Ran."

"Yeah?"

"Where are we going... next time?"

Gu Ran opened his eyes, looking at the girl's sparkling eyes, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. "What? Not afraid of Old Gu and the others finding out?"

Ye Zhenzhen wrinkled her nose, then let out a haughty little hmph. "I'm not afraid!"

"Let's go to Erhai Lake next time."

...

2:00 PM, County A, Qinglin City. Riverside Gardens.

The familiar dry, hot air, the familiar cicada chirps, and the security guard's thick local accent at the community gate gave them the surreal feeling of having returned from another lifetime.

Back home, the furnishings remained the same, carrying the faint, chilly emptiness of a house left unoccupied for days.

The first thing Ye Zhenzhen did upon walking through the door was organize their suitcases, drag them into the bedroom, shove them into the deepest corner of the closet, and bury them tightly under a pile of winter puffer jackets.

Yeah, it totally reeked of burying one's head in the sand.

Immediately after, she took all the Gusao cakes, blue calico fabrics, and various random souvenirs they had brought back from Wuzhen and locked them all inside a drawer.

Gu Ran leaned against the doorframe, watching her at work. "Perfect. A natural-born crime scene cleaner."

Hearing this, Ye Zhenzhen rolled her eyes at him. She dusted off her hands, looked with satisfaction at the flawless room, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Seeing her disdain, Gu Ran felt a bit indignant. "Long hair, short insight. Don't you doubt me, sooner or later I'm going to make a game called Crime Scene Cleaner!"

"Alright, alright, you're the best~"

Gu Ran: "???"

What the hell was with that tone, like she was coaxing a toddler?

"Alright, stop fussing around. Come have some water."

Ignoring her, the boy took a bottle of ice-cold cola from the fridge. Just as he twisted off the cap...

Ring, ring—

The landline in the living room suddenly exploded to life.

The piercing ringtone was especially jarring in the quiet afternoon, startling Ye Zhenzhen so badly her hand jerked, nearly dropping the cup she had just picked up.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the vigilance in each other's eyes.

Gu Ran made a "shh" gesture, walked over to the phone, took a deep breath, picked up the receiver, and casually hit the speaker button.

"Hello?"

"Gu Ran! It's your dad!"

Gu Ran: "..."

What an impolite opening line.

On the other end of the line came Gu Xiangcheng's booming, and even somewhat joyful, voice.

"What's going on with you, boy? Did you block me? Your cell never goes through, no one answers the home phone, where did you run off to this time?"

Gu Ran didn't even blink, his voice as steady as an honest, well-behaved student. "Oh, Dad. My sister and I have been at the library reviewing English CET-4 vocabulary these past few days, my phone was on silent so I didn't hear it. Also, we just went to the supermarket for groceries and just walked in the door."

Beside him, Ye Zhenzhen's eyes widened. She listened to Gu Ran's deadpan nonsense, his face not even flushing a little.

Is he a scumbag?

Pei Susu had said that lying without batting an eye was the standard skill of a player.

Reviewing for the English CET-4!

With an excuse like that, the Oscars owe you a golden statuette!

"Oh, studying is good, but don't overwork yourselves."

Gu Xiangcheng was clearly in a good mood and didn't pry. Instead, he started chatting away. "Your Aunt Ye and I are doing great in Hainan. We're warming up soaking in the sun on the beach, tell Zhenzhen not to worry.

And the seafood here is really something else, the coconuts are sweet too. We mailed you two boxes of coconuts and mangoes earlier, they should arrive in a day or two, remember to sign for them."

Hainan?

The beach?

Soaking in the sun?

Gu Ran raised an eyebrow. His mind flashed to the image of Old Gu on a boat in Wuzhen's canals, wearing sunglasses and whispering cheesy pickup lines to Aunt Ye, looking greasy as ever.

Good grief, this entire family is full of liars!

Are you really soaking in the sun, old man?

You're probably soaking in the moonlight on a big circular love bed in Wuzhen!

Gu Ran fought back a laugh, his tone turning even more sincere. "Got it, Dad. You and Aunt Ye have fun, don't worry about us. Everything is fine at home, and Sister Zhenzhen's cooking is pretty good too."

"Alright, alright, Zhenzhen is a sensible girl, I'm relieved. I'm hanging up now, roaming charges are expensive."

Beep—beep—beep—

The call disconnected.

The living room fell into a dead silence.

Three seconds later.

"Pfft—hahahahaha!"

"Old Gu is really something else."

Gu Ran laughed so hard he couldn't stand straight, leaning against the back of the sofa. "Soaking in the sun in Hainan... he's not afraid of his skin peeling."

"Does this mean... our whole family is a bunch of liars?" Ye Zhenzhen started laughing too, her almond eyes sparkling as she looked at the boy beside her. It was as if doing something slightly naughty made her especially excited.

The afternoon sun spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating their faces.

Gu Ran turned his head, his gaze colliding right into the girl's smiling eyes.

Because she had been holding back her laughter earlier, a lovely blush dusted her cheeks, and a few strands of hair clung to her temples, making her look exceptionally vibrant and cute.

"..."

Did this girl unlock some sort of contrasting personality trait?

Gu Ran reached out and gently tucked her hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing past her warm earlobe.

The usually aloof girl didn't move; instead, she quietly watched the boy so close to her, her heart beginning to race embarrassingly fast once again.

In this moment, there was no tension of being in Wuzhen, no pressure of being caught by their parents. There was only their shared, unspoken little secret.

This feeling was actually so damn sweet.

As her gaze drifted, Ye Zhenzhen suddenly noticed a Wuzhen scenic area ticket quietly lying on the corner of the coffee table, left out in the open.

"You dumb bear~" the girl's voice was impossibly soft.

"Hmm?"

"I want to eat braised pork."

"...Didn't we just eat plane food?"

"I just want some."

"Alright, alright, let's eat. Since you're the older sister, the younger brother ought to take care of you."

"Call me Zhenzhen."

Gu Ran: "..."

Ye Zhenzhen, you really are a damn freak!

...

A thousand miles away in Wuzhen.

Gu Xiangcheng hung up the phone and let out a long sigh of relief.

"How did it go?"

Beside him, Ye Shulian, wearing a resort-style maxi dress, asked nervously.

"Don't worry!" Gu Xiangcheng pushed up his glasses, looking confident. "Those two silly kids are still at home memorizing vocabulary. I told you, Zhenzhen is such a good girl. With her keeping an eye on Gu Ran, how could they possibly run off?"

"That's good. It's just that the young couple the B&B owner mentioned sounded way too much like our two kids. I had to make sure."

Ye Shulian patted her chest, finally putting her mind at ease. "So, where are we going to stroll around this afternoon?"

"I heard the night view over at Xizha is pretty nice. Should we go take a sculling boat ride tonight?"

"Oh my, at our age, what are we doing taking a boat ride..."

"Tsk, this is called romance! Let's go, let's go!"